In addition to requesting that the Russians pressure Netanyahu over the
escalation of violence in Gaza, he also criticized him for commenting on
Palestinian reconciliation efforts.

Responding to Netanyahu's speech Tuesday in the Knesset
where he said that Abbas could choose between "peace with Israel or
Hamas," the Palestinian Authority president retorted, "Israel has no
right to object to Palestinian conciliation, it has no stake in
Palestinian national unity."

"Netanyahu has always wept to the Americans, saying that the
Palestinians are divided and he cant negotiate with them like this,"
Abbas said, adding that unity between Fatah and Hamas would increase the
chances of a prospective Palestinian state, Ma'an reported.

One Israeli official said Netanyahu was willing to meet Abbas anywhere,
but that this was not the purpose of his visit to Moscow. He said the
purpose was to discuss bilateral issues with the Russian leadership.

The Kremlin has a penchant for inviting Israeli and Palestinian leaders
around the same time. Netanyahu last visited the Kremlin in February
2010, when he was preceded by both Abbas, who was there two weeks
earlier, and Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal, who was there just a matter of
days before Netanyahu.

The timing of those visits led to speculation that Moscow was trying to
create the impression that it was a major broker in the region and able
to engage with all the parties to the conflict.

Medvedev visited Jericho via Jordan in January, but did not come to
Jerusalem on an official visit because of a Foreign Ministry work
stoppage at the time. Diplomatic officials said Netanyahu’s visit this
week was meant to make up for that lost visit.

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